Buying a Used Tesla in Australia: Prices, Battery Health and the Traps to Check (2026)

A used Tesla in Australia is one of the best-value EV buys of 2026, because the new-car price cuts of 2023 and 2024 and a wave of ending novated leases have pushed second-hand prices down hard. As of September 2026, a 2022 or 2023 Model 3 rear-wheel drive with under 50,000 km lists for roughly $36,000 to $38,000. A comparable Model Y sits around $41,000 to $43,000. New, the cheapest Model 3 has been $45,900 since Tesla’s late September 2026 price cut, and the cheapest Model Y is $58,900, both before on-road costs. If you are weighing a used Tesla against a new car, our used Tesla vs new EV comparison runs the numbers.

Cheap does not mean simple. Four checks separate a good used Tesla from an expensive mistake: finance owing on the car, battery health, how much warranty is left, and which self-driving hardware is inside. The last one catches more buyers than you would expect.

What a used Tesla in Australia costs right now

Most used Model 3s list between $25,600 and $49,999, and most used Model Ys between $37,200 and $58,995. Those are the ranges across 167 Model 3 and 130 Model Y listings on CarsGuide in September 2026. Where a car sits in that range comes down to year, variant and kilometres.

Car (listed September 2026)	Kilometres	Asking price
2020 Model 3 Long Range AWD	114,788 km	$30,990
2022 Model 3 RWD	48,980 km	$35,990
2023 Model 3 RWD	40,663 km	$37,990
2023 Model 3 Performance	42,889 km	$49,999
2022 Model Y RWD	50,441 km	$41,499
2023 Model Y RWD	36,322 km	$42,390
2023 Model Y Long Range	52,002 km	$45,990
2023 Model Y Performance	31,018 km	$51,690

Asking prices from CarsGuide listings, excluding government charges, as of September 2026.

The fall has been steep. CarsGuide research published in January 2025 found the average used Model 3 listing dropped from $65,990 in January 2023 to $46,705 in December 2024, a 30% fall. Model Y listings fell 36% over the same period, from $79,950 to $53,987. Tesla’s own new-car price cuts drove much of it, and prices have kept sliding since.

Trade-in offers sit well below those asking prices. Owners in Australian Tesla forums report trade-in quotes around $28,000 for a 2022 Model 3 Long Range with about 50,000 km, which is why many sell privately. If you are the buyer, that gap is your negotiating room with dealers. Our guide to EV depreciation in Australia explains why Teslas have lost value faster than most petrol cars.

Why so many used Teslas are for sale in 2026

Novated leases are ending. The electric car FBT exemption started in July 2022, and Teslas were among the most popular cars leased under it. Three-year leases signed in 2023 are now finishing, and each one ends with a balloon payment. The ATO’s minimum residual for a three-year lease is 46.88% of the car’s original cost.

Here is the problem for those drivers. A Model Y RWD listed at $69,300 before on-road costs in May 2023, so a three-year balloon on a car like that lands around $32,000. Trade-in offers on the same car can come in close to that figure after the price cuts, leaving little equity. Many lessees sell privately or hand the car back rather than refinance. Auction house Pickles told EV Central in July 2026 that it expects a “wave” of ex-novated-lease EVs to reach the used market. Used electric car sales rose 54.6% year on year in the first half of 2026, according to the AADA and AutoGrab.

For buyers, that means supply and choice. It also means more cars that still have finance registered against them, which is the first thing to check. Our explainer on novated lease residual values covers the balloon maths from the seller’s side.

Check for finance owing before anything else

Run a PPSR search on the VIN before you pay anything. It costs $2. The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the national list of loans secured against cars and other property. If a novated lease financier still has a security interest and the seller does not pay it out, the financier can repossess the car from you.

The search also flags written-off and stolen status. Do it on the day you pay, not the week before, because finance can be added in between. A legitimate ex-lease seller will usually arrange a payout letter from the financier, and the money goes to the financier first.

How to check a used Tesla’s battery health

Battery health is the car’s current usable capacity as a percentage of what it had new. It matters more than kilometres. The good news: Tesla batteries have aged well. Aviloo’s 2026 study of more than 500,000 battery tests found a median used Model Y at 94.5% health at 50,000 km and 90.3% at 150,000 km. Aviloo is an Austrian testing company and the data is global, but it lines up with what Australian owners report.

Start with a free check. Charge the car to 100%, or ask the seller to, and note the range shown on the screen. Compare it with the original rated range for that exact variant and year. A car showing 5% to 8% less than new at three years old is normal. A car showing 15% less needs an explanation and a lower price.

Then get a proper test. Newer Tesla software includes a battery health test, but in Australia Tesla restricts service-mode access, so the simplest path is an independent state of health test or a Tesla service centre inspection. Treat it like a building inspection on a house.

One quirk affects every test. Rear-wheel drive Model 3s and Model Ys use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, while Long Range and Performance cars use nickel-based (NMC) cells. LFP packs need a regular 100% charge so the car can calibrate its range estimate, and ZECAR’s charging guide recommends a full charge at least once a week. If a seller always stopped at 80%, a low displayed range may be a calibration issue rather than a worn battery. Our guide to LFP vs NMC batteries explains the difference.

What warranty is left on a used Tesla

The factory warranty stays with the car when it changes hands, and the clock runs from the date it was first delivered. Two different warranties apply, and they end at different times.

Warranty	Model 3 / Model Y RWD	Long Range and Performance
Battery and drive unit	8 years / 160,000 km, 70% minimum capacity	8 years / 192,000 km, 70% minimum capacity
Basic vehicle (delivered before 2026)	4 years / 80,000 km	4 years / 80,000 km
Basic vehicle (delivered from 1 January 2026)	5 years / unlimited km	5 years / unlimited km

Terms from Tesla Australia as reported by EV Central, January 2026. Check the current wording on Tesla’s Australian warranty page.

Tesla’s new five-year basic warranty only covers cars delivered new from 1 January 2026. Nearly every used Tesla for sale today has the older four-year, 80,000 km cover. A 2022 car bought now is at or near the end of its basic warranty, even if the battery has years left. That matters because the basic warranty covers screens, door handles, suspension and the air conditioning, which are the parts most likely to need attention.

Tesla also sells used cars through its own certified pre-owned program. At the time of writing, Tesla’s Australian certified pre-owned page lists a 102-point inspection and a used vehicle warranty of 1 year or 20,000 km once the original basic warranty runs out. Prices are usually higher than private sales, but you pay for that safety net. Our EV battery warranty guide compares Tesla with other brands.

HW3 vs HW4: the self-driving trap

Hardware 3 (HW3) and Hardware 4 (HW4) are the two generations of Tesla’s driver-assistance computer. The difference now affects value. Tesla launched FSD (Supervised) in Australia on 18 September 2025 for HW4 cars only. Older HW3 cars cannot run it yet. Tesla said in August 2026 that a lighter version for HW3 cars in Australia and New Zealand is in “active development”, with no date.

As a rough guide, pre-facelift Model 3s and Model Ys built before early 2024 have HW3. Do not rely on the build year. Open Controls, then Software, then Additional Vehicle Information on the car’s screen, and it will list the Autopilot computer.

Ownership of FSD is also messier than it used to be. Tesla stopped selling FSD outright in Australia on 31 March 2026 and moved new buyers to a $149 monthly subscription. On the same date it ended transfers of Enhanced Autopilot and FSD to a new car. If a seller says the car “comes with FSD”, ask Tesla to confirm the feature is attached to that VIN before you pay extra for it. For most buyers, the simpler approach is to value the car without it and subscribe later if you want it.

Common faults and recalls to check

Teslas have fewer moving parts than petrol cars, but a few issues come up again and again with older Model 3 and Model Y cars.

• Front suspension knocks. Owners regularly report clunks from the front control arms on higher-kilometre cars. Listen on a test drive over speed bumps.
• 12-volt battery. Older cars use a lead-acid 12V battery that The Driven reports typically lasts about three years. Newer cars use a lithium low-voltage battery. A warning on screen means a replacement is due.
• Recalls. Tesla fixes most recalls with over-the-air software, but some need a service visit. In 2025, for example, 297 Model 3 and Model Y cars built in 2022 and 2023 were recalled for a power steering software fault. Search the VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au and ask the seller for service records.
• Missing kit. Check the mobile charging cable, both key cards and the phone key setup. A replacement Tesla Mobile Connector adds several hundred dollars.

Australian Model 3s have come from Tesla’s Shanghai factory since early 2021. Earlier cars were built in Fremont in the United States, so a 2019 or 2020 Model 3 is a US-built car. That affects little day to day, but it helps when you are reading owner reviews and parts information.

Can you novated lease a used Tesla?

Yes, in many cases. A used electric car can qualify for the FBT exemption through a novated lease if luxury car tax (LCT) was never payable on it. The car must also be first held and used by the employer on or after 1 July 2022. Most Model 3s and Model Ys were sold new below the LCT threshold for fuel-efficient cars, which is $91,661 for 2026–27. Some early Performance variants were priced above it when new, and that rules them out permanently.

The ATO’s electric car exemption page sets out the rules. Our guide to novated leasing a used EV walks through the lender side, and you can model the numbers with the novated lease calculator. Remember that stamp duty and a rego transfer apply to private sales too; our EV stamp duty guide covers each state.

Which used Tesla to buy

For most people shopping for a used Tesla in Australia, a 2022 or 2023 Model 3 RWD or Model Y RWD is the sweet spot. Both use the durable LFP battery and sit in the middle of the price table above. Both still have about five years of battery warranty left. The Model 3 RWD suits commuters and couples. The Model Y RWD suits families who need the boot and the higher seating position.

Pay more for a Long Range if you regularly drive country highways. It has the longer 192,000 km battery warranty and more range for road trips. Skip the Performance unless you want the speed, because it costs more to insure and eats tyres faster, and early cars may not qualify for a novated lease.

Once the car is home, running costs are low. Plug your numbers into the EV charging cost calculator to see what charging will cost on your tariff. Then compare the model you are considering against its rivals on our electric vehicles hub.